MARCH NEWSLETTER

Tom Kraemer and Ron Raether are teaching a new course offering at The University of Dayton School of Law -- Trademark Trial Practice. To coincide with its general emphasis on intellectual property, U.D. decided to create a trial practice course that emphasizes the unique challenges that arise in litigating the complex intellectual property disputes. The course allows the students to learn general litigation techniques (such as opening statements, closing arguments, and use of experts) applied in the context of intellectual property disputes. Tom and Ron use their combined experience in litigating numerous and varied complex technology-related matters to provide students with practical instruction and realistic scenarios for developing sound trial practice skills.

Ron Raether spoke as part of the educational series sponsored by i-Zone, www.i-zone.org. The i-Zone comprises more than 30 organizations and 75 volunteers with the goal of helping technology start-ups prepare to launch and run their businesses here in the Greater Dayton market. Ron's presentation addressed a number of litigation avoidance issues facing entrepreneurs and technology-related businesses, including a broad overview of intellectual property rights, and user and provider agreements. This presentation was a good fit for Ron's background, which includes disputes involving companies with internet, hardware and software products. Ron also serves as FG&I's representative to i-Zone, in which FG&I participates as a Founder.

The Gardner Scholarship Fund, established by the firm following the tragic death of FG&I associate Howard Gardner on February 8, 2002, has surpassed the $20,000 mark. Established to provide educational funding for Howard and Jennifer Gardner's two young daughters, the fund at Key Bank has received many, many gifts from friends, colleagues and law firms. FG&I provided a $10,000 matching contribution. Anyone wishing to contribute can do so by sending a check designated "Gardner Scholarship Fund" to the attention of John K. Kendall, Faruki Gilliam & Ireland P.L.L., 500 Courthouse Plaza, S.W., 10 North Ludlow Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402. On behalf of Howard's family and everyone here at FG&I, thank you for your generous support.

This month Charlie Faruki presented a CLE talk for the Dayton Intellectual Property Law Association, a local group of Intellectual Property practitioners. The subject of Charlie's talk was Effective Use of Demonstrative Evidence in Trying IP Cases.

In addition, Charlie is going to chair the first-ever fundraising campaign for the Legal Aid Society of Dayton, which will be seeking to raise funds from the legal and corporate communities to assist the Legal Aid Society in fulfilling its mission of bringing legal representation to those persons who cannot afford it.